FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP): A northeastern Indiana judge has sentenced a man to 43 years in prison for nearly killing his longtime girlfriend, telling the man that his violent attack was “despicable.”

Allen Superior Judge Fran Gull cited Harry White II's criminal history in sentencing him Friday. The 45-year-old White had been convicted of attempted murder, intimidation, strangulation and other charges in the June attack at the couple's home.

Court documents say White and the woman had been together for seven years and he attacked her because he was angry that she had not taken him to work the week before.

Gull said White had been waiting in the couple's home to attack his girlfriend and told him “the nature of your crime is despicable.”